The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1887-02-02
THE FREE PASS BILL.


How It Is Weighted Down with Amend-
Do ments to XIII 1t.
Special Correspondence Of The Iniellios,cr.
CHARLESTON, Jan. Sl.-In the House
at 10 o'clock to-day forenoon Mr.. Lucas's
bill to prohibit the issuing OF free passes
to public offices and delegates to political
conventions, came up as the special order.
Mr.. Ragland moved to make an exception
in favor Of newspaper editors who happen
to be officials or delegates. This was &C.
cepted by Mr.. Lucas and adopted by the
House. pla 1EE
Mr.. Ragland moved to further amend by
adding section prohibiting any railroad
from charging more when passage money
is paid on train than is charged for the
same distance when tickets are purchased.
Mr.. Lucas expressed his approval OF the
idea, but objected to it as not germaue to
the bill, and Mr.. Ragland withdrew it.
Mr.. Bowers offered the following
amendment: ..5 $500
ut shall be unlawful for any editor OF
proprietor Of any paper in this State to
send any executive, legislative, judicial OF
ministerial officer Of this State copy OF
their paper without having received pay
for the came from the officer to whom It
is sent" al- g
This was passed before Mr.. Lucas could
'catch on" to the situation. Halt the
members glanced at copies Of the West
Virginia Democrat lying on their desks as
they said with some emphasis, AYE"
Mr.. Hagana moved to strike out MI OF
the bill but the one provision concerning
delegates to political conventions. He
said in support OF this that he acorned to
admit that no could be bribed or in.
tluenced by free pasH, and he was not
willing to saddle upon successive loQisls.
lures measure which he would resent il
it were aimed at him.
CONSPIRACY AGAINST RAILROADS.
Mr.. Kidd said he had opposed this bill
and had been held up to scorn in the paper
Of the immaculate Jefferson county States.
man, James NJ. Msson. 1t looked to him
as if the supporters of this bill were
nctuated by personal spite against tho rail.
roads, and had entered into conspiracy
with the editor referred 10 to coerce mem.
bers into voting for tho measure under
pain Of being held up to ridicule in his
paper. He supported Mr., Hayans' amend.
ment. 5}'5 -
Mr.. Lucas opposed it. He said the mo.
tive Of sending free passes to officers was
bad, and those who received them par
took OF the moral Of the motive. In his
own case free pass would be worth to
him about s56. Ought any gentleman to
accept from q railroad company check
for $562 The amendment Was rejected.
Mr.. Lucas then moved to reconsider the
vote by which Mr.. Bowers newspaper
amendment was adopted. He paid Mr.
Bowers high compliment, but objected
to the amendment as a "Parthian Arrow
intended to give the bill q death blow"
The House refused to reconsider.
Mr.. Hamilton moved to indefinitely
postpone the bill. All the Ohio county
delegation and General Duual voted to
postpone. The House rejected the mo-
lion by vote Of SO to 20.
Mr.. Bowers then moved to add another
clause atiixing fine Of $500 and imprison-
ment for three months as the penalty for
violation of the provision formerly added
on his motion, but this was ruled ou. OF
order by the Speaker as not germaue to
the bill.